CHAPTER XLII.1883.

PRESENTATION OF AN ADDRESS FROM THE CITY OF LONDON—THE CHOVAVEY ZION SOCIETY—PROGRESS OF THE AGRICULTURAL MOVEMENT.

THURSDAY, November 22nd.—The City of London presented an address to Sir Moses. This was unanimously voted by the Court of Common Council, on the motion of Mr Loveridge, seconded by Mr Alderman Isaacs, and a beautiful specimen of modern illumination on vellum was accordingly prepared. The words of the resolution, skilfully engrossed, made mention of the fact that Sir Moses Montefiore was Sheriff forty-six years ago, and the writing was enclosed in a handsome and elaborate border.

This richly ornamented address was conveyed from London by a deputation of the Common Council, composed of Mr Loveridge, the mover of the resolution, Mr Alderman Nottage, and twelve or fourteen deputies. Mr Alderman Isaacs, the seconder of the resolution, was unfortunately prevented by illness from accompanying the party.

[9]The vivacity, the heartiness, the wit, the cheerful readiness of repartee with which Sir Moses Montefiore welcomed his visitors defy all description. Vital force and high animal spirits seemed heightened rather than diminished in this truly marvellous centenarian. He was begged again and again to sit down, but said, "When all my guests are seated I will be seated also." Thereupon the greater number sat down, and Sir Moses took his seat on a couch beside Mr Alderman Nottage, but this was only for a minute or two. Seeing that a few yet stood, he was on his feet again in a moment, protesting his ability and his desire to stand also. Mr Sebag introduced the deputation, and Sir Moses could hardly wait for any formalities, so impatientwas he to pour forth his gratitude and goodwill—in simple, earnest, and impulsive words. That he was greatly moved may be supposed by all who know his sympathetic nature. The address was read by Mr Loveridge, who added some appropriate words, and presented a magnificent bouquet, with the inscription, "Jerusalem," in golden characters across it, this appropriate gift being due to the thoughtfulness of Mr Courtney.

Then Sir Moses, with great feeling, uttered his evidently heartfelt thanks. He spoke of the dear old city with which he had been connected long ago; said it gladdened him to see the blue gowns of the Common Council; that there never was a city more loyal to that Sovereign whose portrait hung before them, and whom he prayed God in Heaven long to protect. He said that he truly wanted words to express all he felt. He could assure the deputation, one and all, that from his heart he thanked them. As a matter of fact, no such assurance was needed, for the voice in which it was expressed swelled with emotion, and the hearers also were visibly affected. The pride with which Sir Moses Montefiore showed his treasured chain of office, the gold casket containing the freedom of the Fishmongers' Company, and other civic souvenirs, was delightful to witness. All present passed before the aged baronet and shook hands with him, and to each who addressed him in turn, he replied with some apt and gracefully turned sentence, which showed a freshness of heart and clearness of brain not frequently found among men of any age. One member of the Common Council said he was eighty. "Is that all?" exclaimed Sir Moses, and then he gravely added, "You have much work before you, sir." The deputation of Common Council was followed by one from the Merchant Taylors' Company, with which Sir Moses was long connected. Subsequently all the guests were entertained at luncheon, Mr Joseph Sebag presiding in place of Sir Moses, who deputed him to say how cordially he felt the pleasure they had conferred on him. Mr Loveridge, Mr Sebag, Mr Arthur Cohen, Q.C., M.P., and Mr Alderman Nottage, spoke after the repast, and whether the immediate subject was their host or the City of London, the former was remembered by name in every sentence, the last speaker quoting language originally uttered in praise of Milton,to the effect that "if he were sent to another planet from our globe he would be regarded as the representative of a race who were the favourites and heirs of Heaven."

The writer having been requested to say grace after the repast, made use of the ancient and venerable Hebrew language, the same being well understood by most of the guests present.

Before leaving, the civic party, at the earnest entreaty of Sir Moses, returned to his room to shake hands once more, and bid him adieu.

Sir Moses, being desirous of expressing his gratitude to those who honoured him with their congratulations, addressed a letter to the editors of the principal journals in the following terms:—

"Sir,—May I ask the privilege of expressing through your paper my heartfelt thanks towards the very large number of friends and public bodies who have so considerately offered me their esteemed congratulations on the occasion of my entering this day into my hundredth year?"Grateful to Providence for the merciful protection vouchsafed to me during my long life, I rejoice in the reflection that any feeble efforts I may have made to advance the happiness and welfare of my fellow-creatures have been so kindly judged."With a fervent prayer for the health and long life of our gracious Queen, whose beneficent sway over this great and free country has caused so much happiness to all classes of her subjects, reiterating my thanks to my numerous friends, and acknowledging your courteous and flattering remarks, I have the honour to remain, yours faithfully,(Signed) "Moses Montefiore."

"Grateful to Providence for the merciful protection vouchsafed to me during my long life, I rejoice in the reflection that any feeble efforts I may have made to advance the happiness and welfare of my fellow-creatures have been so kindly judged.

"With a fervent prayer for the health and long life of our gracious Queen, whose beneficent sway over this great and free country has caused so much happiness to all classes of her subjects, reiterating my thanks to my numerous friends, and acknowledging your courteous and flattering remarks, I have the honour to remain, yours faithfully,

(Signed) "Moses Montefiore."

Subsequently he addressed letters of thanks to all who favoured him with their congratulations, at the same time enclosing cheques in many cases for charitable institutions. The following is a copy of his reply, which was in most instances translated into the language of his correspondent:—

"Your most esteemed letter, conveying to me your felicitations on the occasion of my entering, by the blessing of God, upon my hundredth year of life, has reached me on the eighth of Heshván, and I feel great pleasure in expressing to you my warmest acknowledgments for the kind sentiments you were pleased to evince therein towards me."In appreciation of the honour you conferred on me by your communication, I have placed the same among the important documents I keep in Judith, Lady Montefiore's Theological College, with a view of making known to those who attend there for the study of our Holy Law and the Hebrew literature, the kindness which prompted you to address me on the auspicious event."Most fervently do I pray to Him, who has ever been, and ever will be, the Guardian of Israel, to cause His choice blessing to alight upon yourself and your respected family, so that you may be permitted to continue in your praiseworthy work of benevolence for many years to come in full enjoyment of every happiness.—With reiterated thanks, I am, &c."

"In appreciation of the honour you conferred on me by your communication, I have placed the same among the important documents I keep in Judith, Lady Montefiore's Theological College, with a view of making known to those who attend there for the study of our Holy Law and the Hebrew literature, the kindness which prompted you to address me on the auspicious event.

"Most fervently do I pray to Him, who has ever been, and ever will be, the Guardian of Israel, to cause His choice blessing to alight upon yourself and your respected family, so that you may be permitted to continue in your praiseworthy work of benevolence for many years to come in full enjoyment of every happiness.—With reiterated thanks, I am, &c."

Up to the last day of December, letters, books, poems, and costly presents continued to arrive. In Austria, Galicia, Roumania, Russia, Russian Poland, Italy, and many towns in America and Australia, charitable institutions were established bearing his name, and reports of the same, accompanied by photographs of the buildings and of the principal officers, were sent to him.

Even in 1884, when he had attained his hundredth year, Sir Moses would not give himself the rest he deserved. He continued to take the liveliest interest in charitable and educational institutions, and even signed documents sent to him by his favourite companies—the Alliance, and the Imperial Continental Gas Association.

Sometimes in the course of conversation with his friends he would say, "Can I believe that I am a hundred years old?"

What interested him most this year was the movement at Warsaw by the promoters of agriculture in the Holy Land. They formed themselves into a society, adopting the name of "Chovavey Zion" (the friends or lovers of Zion), and had an excellent likeness made of him by a distinguished artist, which they sold in Russia, Holland, and Germany, the amount realised being intended for the benefit of Jewish colonists in the Holy Land. Many thousands of copies were sold, and the names of the purchasers and the amounts received were published in the Hebrew and German papers. Most of the purchasers gave considerably more than the stipulated price, in order to manifest their high appreciation of Sir Moses' character, and of the object the society had in view. It was a source of very great happiness to him to hear of the progress made by the Jewish agriculturists in the Land of Promise, where there were now seven colonies.

That for which he had been longing full sixty years of his life he now saw being realised by the strenuous efforts of the society "Chovavey Zion," by the agricultural Hebrew associations in Roumania and elsewhere, and by private gentlemen, who individually exerted themselves for the good and great cause. Foremost among them stands the great friend of colonisation, Baron Edmond de Rothschild in Paris.

Sir Moses had the satisfaction of being enabled to send his contributions on his ninety-ninth birthday to six colonies, viz.:—Ge-oni, near Safed; Rishon le-Zion, two and a half hours from Jaffa; Beney Bilu; Sámárin, near Haifa; Yahood, two and a half hours from Jaffa; Pe-kee-in, near Safed, the Bokea.

He also had the satisfaction of receiving Mr David Gordon, a delegate from twenty-three congregations in Russia, who presented him with an album, containing fervent wishes and prayers for the prolongation of his life, with the signatures of 1562 representatives of fifty societies bearing the name of "The Friends of Zion," all branches of the above-named society at Warsaw.

They celebrated his centenary by holding a general meeting of the members in the town of Kattowitz, in Upper Silesia, a place chosen by them on account of its vicinity to the frontiers of Russia, Austria, and Prussia, for the purpose of arranging all the particulars referring to a "Sir Moses Montefiore Institution," having for its object the cultivation of land in Palestine.

In America, in Pratt Country, Kansas, a colony bearing the name "Montefiore," and consisting of refugees from countries in which the blessings of liberty have not yet been allotted to their brethren, sent him an address in pure Biblical Hebrew, conveying the expression of their gratitude for his exertions to ameliorate their condition, and forwarded for his acceptance specimens of the produce of their colony.

His regular medical attendant and others paid him frequent visits, but he seldom left his room. Sometimes great anxiety was felt by those round him when attacks of bronchitis or a severe cough disturbed his nights, but he would rally again, so strong was his constitution. Sir William Jenner once came down. Sir Moses was not informed he had been sent for, or he would not have consented. The eminent physician, after a careful examination, made the satisfactory statement that his pulse was wonderfully well for a man of his age, but, of course, he observed, his life was, as it were, hanging on a thread. However, by great care and unceasing attention, he might yet, comparatively speaking, continue to enjoy health and good spirits.

Very frequently, as I walked from Broadstairs to East Cliff Lodge, I was stopped on the road by rich and poor, eagerly inquiring, "How is Sir Moses?" and whenever he took a carriage drive, which was now but very seldom, many groups of people might be seen awaiting him on the roads through which he would have to pass, so as to catch a glance of him.

His Synagogue and College continued to engage his mind. To visitors, who purposely came from London or elsewhere to Ramsgate to see him, he would say, "Have you been to see the Synagogue? Have you seen the College?" Not being able to attend the College himself, he had copies made of the lectures, and on a Friday night or Sabbath morning he would invite the lecturer for the day to come and read the same to him.

The order for writing a scroll of the Pentateuch was again sent to Wilna, in accordance with his custom ever since his first visit to that place in the year 1846, and he awaited its arrival with impatience. He often expressed the wish that he might soon have the happiness of again writing the last verse in the sacred manuscript.

He used to join his friends at the dinner table, although, for the last two years, he could no longer partake of the same food as was prepared for them, but he would remain on the sofa and join them in drinking the healths of some of those present.

He still enjoyed the Friday evenings (the commencement of the Sabbath) to a high degree. When his Sabbath lamp illumined his chamber, and prayers were being recited, he would join in singing the hymns and psalms; afterwards he would drink the wine out of the Sabbath cup, over which the benediction of the hallowed day of rest had been pronounced, and partake of the Sabbath bread. He would then be in the best of humours, and would delight every one with his conversation.

Thus the weeks and months glided away on the path of time, and the hundredth anniversary of his birthday drew near.

Footnotes[9]Description of presentation taken partly fromDailyTelegraph.

Footnotes

[9]Description of presentation taken partly fromDailyTelegraph.

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